Page 36 of A Seduction Of Death (Umbra Hunters #4)

THIRTY-SIX

Orcus

M y body aches as I turn, pressing myself to my hands and knees and slowly climb to my feet. “Father!” Valen snaps, turning from where he’s crouched in front of his mate and grabbing my arm to help me up. I brush off his hold, not wanting to look as weak as I feel, as my eyes fall on the blonde girl sitting on Heldakar’s lap.

No, not Heldakar, Creed. I grimace at the human name, not liking the sound of it.

“Hey, take it easy, old man,” he teases, and I arch a brow at his light tone, thankful at least one of my sons didn’t take after me. Creed's ability to keep the mood light and cheerful around him, even in the worst of times, is better than any healing magic I know of.

“Are you alright?” Meyer asks, leaning forward on Creed's lap, hands clasped in her own as she studies me. I nod, my relief at seeing her still alive nearly making my head spin.

“I am, surprisingly,” I finally say, watching as four of my six sons stare at me, relief in their eyes. “Thanks to you, I’m assuming?” I ask, and she grimaces, surprising me with the guilt I feel coming from her.

“Yes,” Nox answers, climbing shakily to his feet where he sat by Archer. “It sounds like Meyer was able to give Inanis a different magic source to consume and spare the remaining of yours, but you are still weak,” he says, and my lips thin in response. I may be weak, but I’m not dead, and that's all that matters.

“Thank you,” I whisper, looking at my newest daughter with a small smile growing as she flushes a little.

“It was kinda my fault you were there to begin with,” she grumbles, looking confused as she shakes her head. “Though, I’m not sure what actually happened. How the hell did the castle blow up? It’s typically only me who gets hurt,” she muses and I shake my head.

“No. From what I gathered while listening to Jesthren, it wasn't, my dear. He simply waited for you to be vulnerable in sleep and used the magic he stole from your mother to coerce you into Dream Walking. We were both ambushed. All that matters is that we are alive. And since you can make things physical in your dreams, maybe that's why?” I ask and she shrugs.

“I’ve never made things blow up before,” she whispers.

“Have you ever tried to blow something up before now?” I ask and she smiles and shakes her head. “Did you do something different this time? Your magic is growing stronger, maybe you’ve always had the ability but never the opportunity?” I ask, watching her frown as she nods.

“Maybe,” she says, but doesn't sound convinced. I look to Arch, feeling my smile grow once more at the sight of his light green eyes.

“Son,” I whisper, then purse my lips when emotion threatens to break free.

“Hey, Dad,” Archer whispers, and I can’t stop the chuckle that breaks through from the words on his lips. I always raised my sons with strict rules and an awareness of formality. Archer was the only one of my boys who struggled with that, calling me Dad rather than Father. I remember a time when the informal title would drive me mad, but now it's my favorite word in the world.

I look to Nox, silently asking him if his brother is alright. My fear of losing Arch, of knowing he had been a victim in his brother's schemes this entire time, has damn near destroyed me. I’ve barely slept, barely eaten, and had found every excuse to be in the dungeon with him when I was not needed elsewhere. At the dip of Lennox’s head in confirmation, my unsteady legs buckle and I would have fallen to the ground if not for Valen grabbing my hand and supporting most of my weight.

“You need rest,” he chides, and I roll my eyes at how much he sounds like Viv. Valen isn’t wrong. I have never felt this weak in my whole life, not even after the fight with Inanis and the wounds I suffered to get him in that damn sarcophagus.

“We need to get to the Demonic realm. How long has it been since you woke up?” I ask Meyer as the room spins around me. I need a timeline of all recent events before deciding what to do next. But there is one thing I know I need to do, and that’s to get to Viv because I have no doubt that will be Inanis' first conquest. He’ll attack my castle, but he doesn't want my home. He wants my Queen.

“You can’t travel like this,” Nox immediately disagrees, and I ignore him, keeping my eyes on my daughter.

“Um, fifteen, maybe twenty minutes?” she asks, looking at Valen, who nods.

“Roughly. Thirty tops since she woke, twenty since you were brought in.”

“Fuck. Too long. We need to go. Where is my guard?” I ask, looking around a room I know I’ve never seen before. The walls are made of timber, the ceiling slat wood and… broken? I look up at the night sky, wondering where the hell my children have brought me, and look to Creed. “What is this place?”

“Ranger Barracks. Nox couldn't stand being around those old windbags when we first arrived, and Raz almost killed a few of them. So we volunteered to sleep out here and keep an eye on the Rangers rather than suffer the previous Seniorem’s company.”

“And your guards are probably helping Victor clear the rubble and ensure there are no Hunters trapped,” Valen offers as Nox’s face flushes red. He stalks over to Creed and glares down at his mate. I watch in amusement as he holds a hand out to her, and she glares up at him and crosses her arms over her chest in response. There is a brief stare-down between the two, and I’m unsure which one will cave first, but eventually, Nox sighs and drops to his knees before her.

“I’m sorry I was a dick. I shouldn’t have made you feel bad for doing something you thought was right,” he whispers.

“Something that is right,” she clips out, and Nox’s glare darkens.

“No. Your safety is above everyone else, Little Demon. I will not agree to that, but I do feel bad for making you upset.”

“My safety isn’t supposed to be above everyone. You have to see how absurd that is,” she disagrees, and Nox rolls his lips together, refusing to see her point, making me chuckle. I love how his mate isn't one to allow him to walk all over her.

“We’ll have to agree to disagree on that. But I am sorry,” he bargains, and she eyes him for a moment before nodding and taking his hand, letting him pull her from Creed’s arms and into his. I watch them with longing, wondering if this could have been my life if I hadn't fucked everything up with my brother and Viv, but shut down that trail of thinking. The past will not change; all I can do is learn from my mistakes and hope to fix things before they worsen.

“We leave in ten minutes. Tell your Seniors to prep the castle in case the Rogue Seniorem attacks. I’m unconvinced they will. Inanis and Jesthren will put their full attention on the Demonic realm first, and if successful, they will destroy the veil between the worlds.”

“The castle is in ruins. It will be hard to defend,” Nox says, standing as he tugs his mate into his arms and leans heavily on her. He looks exhausted, yet he’s not complaining about having to leave. A flicker of pride grows in my chest, and I nod.

“I know. But their wall still stands. As long as it’s not breached, they have to protect their castle. Besides, it is not the castle they need to keep safe but their people. If the castle falls, I’ll simply construct a new one for them. They need to focus on staying alive and ensuring the Beastia do not make it off this mountain and get into the human villages.”

“I don’t think Inanis will attack Versipellis immediately, Father. You need to regain some strength before you fight. Maybe taking a night to rest–”

“No,” I cut him off and sigh when he glares at me. “You're not wrong, Lennox. Inanis will gather his armies and the Beastia before he attacks. Something he will manage quickly, I’m sure, but it will probably take him twenty-four to forty-eight hours. He will not waste time in seeking out your mother. He may be there already,” I add, and all four of my sons stiffen at the mention of their mom in possible danger.

“Let's go!” Creed snaps, jumping to his feet and rushing out of the room.

“I’ll help Arch,” Valen says, releasing my arm and rushing to Archer, who is tossing the blankets back from his bruised and bloody body. He’s in no shape to travel, but I know there is no stopping him. He’ll surely want to get home to help his mother. But Archer has a long-awaited reunion waiting for him that I can't wait to happen. “Oh, and uh…” Valen catches my eyes and nods to the small table near the bed, and I grin when I see the black stone necklace on it. I hate that it still exists, but I’m damn fucking proud of the girl for bringing it back from her dreams.

“You did it,” I whisper to Meyer, who gives me a funny look as I cross over and grab the stone off the table, hissing in pain as the magic burns my flesh.

“Oh shit! I wrapped my hand around it in the last moment before everything exploded. I was trying to bring it back with me, but I didn't think it worked,” she admits.

“Well, that would make more sense as to how you made the castle explode. You tried to bring something back from your dream and ended up bringing everything back.” Meyer’s face pales, and she groans, palming her face as she nods in agreement. “It would also explain how I’m alive, given the fact that I’m pretty sure I wasn’t before?” I ask her, watching as she blanches and nods.

“You stopped breathing, and your skin was gray. There was only a little bit of your magic left in the air, and I grabbed it,” she confirms. I shake my head, confused about how this girl accomplished such a feat but beyond grateful for it. I’m sure Viv is beside herself by this point. If my heart stopped, she would have felt it.

“I owe you a life debt,” I whisper to her, and she instantly shakes her head.

“No!” Nox snaps when I place the necklace in her hand, and I glare at him.

“It’s hers. We can’t touch it without it trying to kill us. It will be safest with her,” I snap back as Meyer brings the black stone up to her face and studies it closely.

“Are you sure this is the Devil's thing… uh, necklace? It doesn’t feel important… or scary.”

I’m sure,” I reassure her as Nox fumes at my side.

“So, what do we do with it?” she asks, hooking it around her neck and letting the stone fall to her chest.

“We keep it from Inanis, if possible.”

“I’ll gather our horses,” Nox growls, kissing Meyer briefly before releasing her. “Will you tell Victor and Senior Regalis to find me?” he asks, still glaring at the necklace as she nods. “I’ll grab you a change of clothes,” he says, looking her up and down. The shirt that she has on goes to her knees, covering everything, but she will need proper clothing to make the trip to the Demonic realm. “And, you better tell the boys as well. I do not want them sneaking in behind us and getting caught in the line of fire if Inanis attacks.”

“Boys?” I ask as I move to step next to Meyer and offer her my elbow. I’ll walk with her so I can speak to Victor as well. Plus, it will give me time to talk with my daughter alone.

“Theo and Jordan. Theo is the one who followed us the last time,” she explains, and I nod.

“Aww, yes. Your brothers?” I confirm, and she smiles and nods.

“Yeah. Not by blood, but they’re mine all the same.”

“Blood relation does not mean family,” I whisper and wink as she takes my arm. “Ten minutes,” I remind my sons as I escort Meyer out of the room, not willing to wait a moment longer to get back to my mate. The moment we step out of the room my shoulders relax and I groan a little, my body aches almost too much to bear.

“You’re in pain,” Meyer says, eyeing me and I nod.

“Yes.”

“Why not tell the guys? They can help,” she offers.

“They can and would. They are good boys. The best, in fact,” I say, grinning as we move slowly down the long hall. “And I suppose it's a pride thing. Ridiculous, I know,” I say when she scoffs. “But, I don’t want to look weak in my son's eyes,” I admit as she pats my arm with her hand.

“I get it. I’ve been trying to do things on my own so they don't think I’m such a burden. However,” she stresses and looks up at me with humor dancing in her eyes. “I typically cause more trouble when doing it, so I’m trying to learn when to ask for help.”

“But you have been successful with some things. Freezing the Wraiths and Beastia, for instance,” I say, and she laughs.

“And everyone else? I thought Razar would faint when he realized what I did. Then he got hurt,” she points out.

“True. But sometimes a person learns best their own way.”

“Yeah, I just wish my own way wasn’t so difficult. I imagine my life would be easier if I thought things through more—the guys, too.”

“Yes,” I agree with a laugh, feeling far more comfortable in her presence than I thought I would. I will admit, I was hesitant about Meyer when she first rode up to my castle with my sons. But the girl has grown on me, and I can't wait to develop a friendship of my own with her. Something tells me life will never be quite the same as it used to be with her around. “But not nearly as amusing.”

“My life is not boring, that's for sure.”

“Good. A boring life is a life not lived correctly. Now, you will have to lead me out of here, dear. I have no idea where I’m going,” I admit when I see the hall split in different directions.

“Oh, sure! The commons room is that way, and we can get to the castle from there,” she instructs, pointing straight. I follow her directions, nodding to the frantic-looking Rangers as they scramble from their bunks at the Seniors' behest.

“How in the world do you sleep in this madhouse?” I ask, trying to count all the young Hunters who run around, shouting at each other while strapping on their weapons and fighting leathers.

“I don't have a choice. Or I didn’t. Nox threatened to hunt me down and kill me if I tried to leave when I first got here,” she says with a giggle that has me blinking down at her in shock.

“Did he?” I growl, knowing I taught him better than to treat a female that way.

“Yeah, but I’ve kneed him in the balls about a dozen times since then, and he doesn't try that shit as much anymore,” she says, waving off my concern as I make a mental note to inform Viv that her youngest son needs a talking to. “Plus, I was a brat when I first got here and enjoyed provoking him.” she shrugs, and I shake my head, finding her behavior far too amusing as she leads us out into the bitter cold of the night, and directs me to the castle door.

“Are you prepared to return to the Demonic realm?” I ask as we walk inside and she lets my arm go so we can walk down the steep and narrow stairs that lead toward the entry of the castle.

“Yes,” she answers with zero hesitation. “I enjoyed my time there, and the guys liked being home. I never saw this castle as home, so I’m happy anywhere the guys are. Idaho was the only home that felt… I don’t know. Safe? But there was still the Therion and Beastia to worry about. And now that Grampa is gone, I don't want to go back. That life I lived feels like it was a hundred years ago. I will want to return to see my friends, though,” she says with a frown.

“Visit them when you need. You will be Queen. You can do as you please,” I remind her, and she laughs.

“Yeah, as long as Nox doesn't throw a fit about it.”

“Lennox is young and mated, something we strongly encourage males of our race not to do because of their bullheadedness. And what Lennox doesn't know doesn't hurt him.” Meyer turns as she walks down the stairs, stressing me out a little as she looks up at me.

“Why, Orcus, I never thought you would be a rule breaker.”

“I’m not. Viviane, on the other hand, excels at it,” I grumble, letting a hint of annoyance out with my words as she thankfully turns and continues down the steps.

“I do enjoy Viv’s company. I think I can learn a lot from her.”

“You can and will. She likes you too,” I reassure her when I feel a hint of stress coming from her at the mention of my mate. Viv is protective of her children like a Demon mother is. But she’s already got a soft spot for Meyer, and with how similar the two females are, I can only imagine the trouble they will get into together. I look up as we walk out of the narrow stairwell and into chaos, spotting the Senior Drakos and Senior Regalis standing at the top of the castle's stairs, instructing Hunters and Rangers with a discipline I can admire.

“There he is,” Meyer says, skipping off in their direction as I trail slowly after her. I watch as she tells her Senior that Nox needs to speak with him, and I stop several feet behind her, allowing her time to relay her message before I interrupt.

“I’ll find him. Will he be in the courtyard?” he asks.

“We are about to leave, so he might already be down there.” Victor nods to Senior Regalis, whose eyes haven't left me since I stepped off that last stair, and tells her he will be back shortly.

“King Orcus,” the Hunter says with a respectful bow when he sees me standing behind Meyer.

“Senior Drakos,” I nod back to him as Meyer leads us out of the wrecked castle, her eyes wet and wide as she looks around at the devastation. I can feel the guilt course from her like it's my own, making me growl as I try to soothe the pain from her internal loathing. This isn't her fault. It's Inanis’. But I know telling her that will do nothing, so I use what little magic I have left and press against her guilt, pressing calm into her as we walk through the open double doors of the castle and into the dark courtyard.

“Raz!” she shouts when she spots my son stomping through the gates of the castle wall. He freezes when he hears her, hood up, and his shoulders tense like always. Sprinting down the stairs, Meyer nearly slips twice on her bare feet before reaching him and pouncing, wrapping her legs around his waist in a big hug.

“That girl is going to get herself killed,” Senior Drakos moans, watching her with a soft fondness I can relate to. Razar catches her when she jumps into his arms, but almost as quickly as he does, he lets her go, forcing her to stand on her feet as he leans down and starts whispering something to her I can't hear. But by the sudden burst of anger and the glare that crawls onto her face, I know it's not good.

“It might be the other way around,” I muse as the big Hunter and I watch my young children argue. It takes thirty seconds for Meyer to start yelling back at Raz, not nearly as quiet as my son had been, and I grin as she brings a finger up and wags it in his face the way Viv does when the boys have misbehaved.

“In what way?” Senior Drakos asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

Razar growls and stands up straight, glowering down at his mate before reaching out and palming her face, shoving her back into a pile of show. Meyer lets out a squeak of surprise before she looks down at the cold snow she’s found herself in, then snarls up at my son.

“Razar might get himself killed if he provokes that girl too much,” I chuckle just as she launches herself at his feet, taking out his ankles and making him curse as he falls to the ground with a heavy thump. In a matter of seconds, she’s straddling him, calling him all sorts of names I’ve never heard before, and they start to roll over the snow, wrestling for control and making my chuckle turn into straight-out laughter.

“What the… Razar! Get off her immediately!” Lennox snarls as he appears next to me, ax in hand, black armor strapped to his chest, and looking every inch the Demon Prince I raised him to be. He stomps down the stairs, yelling at Razar while Meyer grabs a fist full of snow and shoves it down the back of Razar's cloak.

Oh, yes. This girl will fit perfectly into my family. I just have to ensure everyone survives the war I started over a century ago.